Lake Placid (New York)
| Lake Placid | |
|---|---|
| Placid Lake | |
View from the gondola on Whiteface Mountain | |
Lake Placid Lake Placid | |
| Location | Adirondack Mountains, Essex County, New York, US |
| Coordinates | 44°19′N 073°58′W / 44.317°N 73.967°W |
| Type | Glacial lake |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 2,170 acres (8.8 km2) |
| Average depth | 50 ft (15 m) |
| Surface elevation | 1,857 ft (566 m) |
| Islands | Buck Island, Moose Island, Hawk Island |
| Settlements | Lake Placid |
The body of water named Lake Placid is located in the Adirondack Mountains in northern New York, the United States.[1] It is on the northern side of the Village of Lake Placid.
History
The earliest appearance of Lake Placid on a map dates to 1804. In that map, it is known as Placid Lake.[2] "Placid Lake" is still sometimes used to distinguish it from the village of Lake Placid, New York.[3] Europeans began to settle in the area in the early 19th century.[4]
Original settlement of the lake was done by the Peru Steel Ore Company in 1846. They built a wooden dam for the purposes of providing power to ironworking and mining business.[3] The dam proved to be problematic as it affected the water level of the lake and in 1893 residents of the lakeshore organized becoming the “Shore Owners’ Association” and bought the land surrounding the dam from the Peru Steel Ore Company and established a regular water level. The dam has since been rebuilt with sturdier materials and is still upkept by the Shore Owners’ Association.[3]
In the late 19th century, construction of camps began along the lake in response to the rise in tourism at the village of Lake Placid. The shores of Placid lake are difficult to get to and often only accessible by boat, making the camps exclusive. There are now about 225 camp sites on the shores and islands of the lake. Historic camp sites have since been preserved and renovated and there is a guided tour boat available for visitors. [5]
Geography
The lake is approximately 2,170 acres (8.8 km2), and has an average depth of about 50 feet (15 m). It is located in the towns of North Elba and St. Armand, both in Essex County.
There are three islands on Lake Placid, named Buck, Moose, and Hawk.
Conservation
The lake borders the northern part of the village of Lake Placid, and is a source of drinking water for the town. Maintaining water quality in the lake is a major local issue. The lake is fed by springs and Adirondacks mountain streams. There are nearly 300 houses on the lake shore. Because most of the houses are unoccupied much of the year, the water usually remains clean.
Local efforts to combat aquatic invasive species have been successful. They are supported by a boat cleaning station where powerboats are put into the water.
The lake has produced record lake trout.[6]
See also
References
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lake Placid (New York)
- ^ MacKenzie, Mary (March 17, 2000). "A rendition of the earliest known map of the local region". The Lake Placid News. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
- ^ a b c "History of the SOA". Shore Owners’ Association of Lake Placid. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
- ^ "History". Lake Placid Legacy Sites. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
- ^ Manchester, Lee (September 13, 2002). "Visiting historic Placid Lake: AARCH takes guests on tour of two classic lake camps" (PDF). Lake Placid News.
- ^ "State Notes Record Fish". The North Creek News Enterprise. February 28, 1987. p. 12. Retrieved November 23, 2025.
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Image gallery
Lake Placid (lake).
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House on Buck Island
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Whiteface Mountain from northern end of lake
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New + old boathouses
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House on Buck Island